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Show SwffUit H tK AIR FORCE RESERVE H.lit op Tlntts "" I HEADS VP Oct. 25, U91 3a .. SHOUT BURSTS Quick Wif Ut nxiy-ttMrrtis- ts Air Force Reserve lo pay sewing fab The Air Force Reserve is enlistthe said the will t h. -- SR-7- 1 at the Air Force reservists will have to maintain four serviceable sets of BDUs and will become eligible for this benefit when they need to replace a uniform or sew on new rank. Officials on the 88th Air Force Uniform Board approved the use of government funds to pay for sewing expenses. BDUs cost more and wear out faster than the phased-ou- t olive said officials. the green fatigues, They jo a J museum. eserve 'silkaloves' laclcbird together by Barbarann Vessels 419th TFW Public Affairs Office SMSgt. Martin Tolbert's weathered log was about as thick as the tires on an SR-7The Blackchronicled the manuscript bird's return to shape at the hands of the 405th Combat Logistics Support Squadron hours after its for transport to Hill AFB. 1. tear-dow- n Reservists toiled, they said, "with honor" as their surgical precision returned the big black ghost to its awesome form. Many reservists donated hours and hours of time and talked later about what an enriching experience it was to hold hands with history. "It was an honor just to touch the black phantom," MSgt. Richard Mate marveled. The volunteers recounted that when you watch an incubated figure take on image day after day, you just can't wait to get back to where you left off. Tolbert, the energy tracker, reads from his log for the detail of who did what as the hulk loomed in their squadron hangar. Noteworthy are the pages and pages of people time. Black beauty emerged recently, and the change of scenery began with a regal procession to the museum. Not too far away, Tolbert and e his wife strode the jaunt, holding hands in the Blackbird's five-mil- shadow, escorting pastures. Top advisor bids 41 9th goodbye senior enlisted advisor for 10th Air Force said goodbye The Texas-base- d during his last visit to the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing recently. CMSgt. Jim R. Ruderer said it has d been a privilege to represent of the finest Air Force Reserve fighting force. "You have made my job easy," he grinned. "Part of my charter has been to represent the 10th AF enlisted force to the numbered air force commander and reinforce his policies. Our leaders are very perceptive to the voice of the enlisted and their ears are open," he one-thir- said. "In my opinion, we have the best wing and group commanders and top leadership in the Air Force Reserve to day. We have tackled many problems successfully state tax issues BX-commissa- ry and and those who made the changes have listened. This is your program," he said, "so keep that feedback coming." The chief commented on the many changes facing the Air Force in the next several years. "Many of these changes may not be perceived as very positive, but take it from an old man every dark valley leads to a higher mountain. We need our senior leadership to encourage our troops so we will be stronger for the trials ahead," he said. The senior enlisted advisor will retire effective Nov. 3 with 37 years of service. Humanitarian airlifts resume The Air Force began flying humanitarian airlift missions to Albania in July, transporting about 280,000 pounds of food from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. transports, assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del., flew from Dhahran to the naval air "station in Sigonella, Sicily, where they unloaded the food which Two C-- 5 canned consists of beef stew and canned salmon. The food was then put aboard a aircraft and flown to Tirana, Albania. The mission was carried out under the Defense Department's excess property humanitarian assistance program, which has served more than 50 meals-ready-to-ea- t, C-1- foreign countries. More reservists in the Air Force Reserve unit program will wear a medal for their service during the Persian Gulf Crisis. By executive order, the president authorized award of the National Defense Service Medal for all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the selected Reserve in good standing during the period from Aug. 2, 1990, to a date to be de- termined. In the past, reservists earned the award for serving on active duty, other than for training, during periods for which active military service merited TAC special recognition. The executive order signed in October recognizes members of the selected Reserve who were not called up but continued their regular weekend and annual training programs. Reservists should not wear the medal until the Air Force issues revised implementing instructions for the award. When the instructions are published, reservists who were eligible to wear the medal for service before the Persian Gulf Crisis will indicate their subsequent award by adding a bronze service star to their ribbon. with first kill pilot credited trackof is Closer examination flight ing information has resulted in an pilot from the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing being officially credited with the first aerial kill in Operation Desert F-1- 5 Storm. The Air Force now credits Capt. John K. Kelk with shooting down the first Iraqi jet in the air war. The 33rd TFW based at Eglin AFB, Fla. The tracking information revealed Kelk's kill took place 50 minutes before Capt. Steve Tate of the 1 st Tactical Fighter Wing from Langley AFB, Va., shot down an Iraqi jet in what was widely reported at the time to have been the war's first victory. air-to-a- ir Airman commissioning program revised it to new They say men who love old airplanes know where all the polished bolts are. History says somewhere it's written, "gone from the touch, but not from the heart." Sue Kidman, 419th financial manager, says the base is working on how to collect the uniforms and what outside agency will be awarded the contract for sewing. Until procedures are announced, reservists are being reimbursed for their expenses. "Reservists can bring their receipts to Room 203 of Bldg. 593 and we will make up the necessary paperwork to pay them back for insignia sewn on BDUs," she said. More reservists to wear medal Photo by Len Borry Blackbird waits before being towed to its final resting place Hill AFB sew-o- n Oct. 1. Almost home The service save ed people the additional cost of sewing on rank insignia and aecouterments, which averages $7.50 per uniform. paying tab for sewing name tapes, chevrons, patches and badges on enlisted people's battle dress uniform. BDUs became the mandatory utilitv uniform The Air Force Reserve has revised its Deserving Airman Commissioning Program. Applicants must now attend the Air Force Officer Orienta- tion Course at Lackland AFB, Texas, within 45 days of commissioning. The Reserve revised the course, making it more in line with situations facing Reserve officers. The first course was this month. The Reserve will offer the course on a quarterly ba- sis, and each class will accommodate two-wee- k up to 20 reservists. Two major requirements for commissioning have also changed. Applicants no longer have to submit a waiver if older than age 30. Now they must be commissioned before reaching age 35. Additionally, the required Air Force Officer Qualification Test scores are different. Applicants must now score a minimum of 15 in verbal, 10 in quan- titative and 15 in aptitude, and have a composite score of at least 100. Mobilized Air Force reservists below still mobilized, 1 percent of them are The number of unit Air Force reservists mobilized for Operation Desert Storm fell below 1 percent by women, and 27 are mobilized Air Force and 165 AFRES enofficers Reserve listed personnel remained on active duty. Slightly more than half of them are on medical hold status, and about a fourth are hardship cases. Of those Another three officers and 34 enlisted members stayed on active duty as volunteers. At the height of the Persian Gulf Crisis, the Air Force had mobilized some 20,300 unit reservists. mid-Septembe- Thirty-seve- n Oops full-tim- e air reserve technicians. Let's get it right! commissaries. stated September headsUp area r. 31 gray- - reservists had unlimited privileges at exchange and revenue- generating morale, welfare and recre- ation facilities and unlimited use of It should have stated "unlimited privileges at exchange and morale, welfare and recreation facilities and limited use of commissaries." revenue-generatin- g Falcon's Roost Restaurant to open soon official. The name of the new will be the It's restaurant on the west side of Bldg. 590 is the Falcon's Roost. The new facility is expected to open in late October or early November and will be operated by base restaurant personnel. Hours of operation are pending, but officials say the Falcon's Roost day open during probably Monday through Friday and on main unit training assemblies. The menu has not been established yet, but will probably consist of short order items. Food will be cooked else-e where on base and brought to the con's Roost where it can be warmed. Fal-bas- |